[IP] Why would a politician go to a swing state to
Begin forwarded message:
From: Larry Tesler <tesler@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: October 23, 2004 5:17:12 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Why would a politician go to a swing state to persuade undecided
voters--and then speak only to voters who already support him?
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Published on Thursday, October 21, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
To Be Silenced, Or Not to Be: That is the Question
by Debi Smith
"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of
all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily
defeat us."
--Justice William O.Douglas
Last week, both vice presidential nominee John Edwards and President
George W. Bush visited Southern Oregon. Considering the area is
relatively rural, sparsely populated, and Oregon is a state that
usually gets little attention in a presidential election, it was an
unprecedented and rather exciting occasion. I decided to try and get
tickets to both events for my kids and myself.
Getting tickets from the Jackson County Democratic Party Headquarters
for the Edwards event was pleasant and easy. They didn't ask me to
declare a party, didn't ask who I was voting for, didn't ask me to
provide personal information or a DNA sample.
Not so at the Jackson County GOP headquarters. First they wanted to
know my name, address, phone number, email, and my driver's license
number. "Do they really have the time, funds, and need to run all this
data through some security check? What are they afraid of?" I asked
myself. But hey, if it'll get me some tickets, I'll grudgingly fill out
the application.
It didn't get me the tickets. "Are you a Bush supporter?" I was
asked. I explained that I was a registered Independent and not
necessarily a Bush supporter. "Are you going to vote for Bush?" I was
asked. "No," I honestly, and out of curiosity to see what would happen,
replied. I was summarily told that if I wasn't planning on voting for
Bush, I wasn't welcome. ...
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1021-22.htm
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The remainder of the piece is about a disturbing pattern of unreported
police excesses at rallies.
Larry Tesler
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